Beer, Wine & Spirits Department Head

Description

WHO WE ARE

We’re a community-owned natural foods grocery store passionate about high-quality food, sustainability, and the cooperative business model. Our mission is rooted in serving our community while creating a workplace that is inclusive, engaging, and supportive. We strive to set a high standard for employment practices by fostering a culture of respect, integrity, and growth. We’re looking for positive, self-motivated people who take pride in delivering excellent customer service, value the quality of their work, show up reliably for their team, and enjoy working together to make a meaningful impact.

Job Title:

Wine, Beer & Spirits Department Head

Reports to:

Grocery Category Manager

Status:
Full-time, Union Classification Level 4

Schedule:

Tuesday through Saturday

POSITION SUMMARY

The Wine, Beer & Spirits (WBS) Department Head performs all duties of a Grocery Team Member while overseeing the day-to-day operations and success of the wine, beer, and spirits department. This includes maintaining clean, well-merchandised displays, developing promotional displays, selecting and ordering products, and collaborating with the Grocery Category Manager on pricing and promotions. This role supports the Grocery team by providing subject-matter expertise, training, and clear communication.

This is a non-supervisory leadership role that contributes to department sales, margin, and customer service goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Service & Team Collaboration

• Provide excellent, inclusive, and professional customer service to shoppers and coworkers.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with team members, customers, and vendors.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of co-op principles and values; explain co-op membership and benefits to customers.
• Attend department and all-staff meetings to stay informed and share updates.

Leadership & Training

• Act as the primary point of contact for the WBS section; provide guidance to Grocery Team Members on department standards and processes.
• Train staff on relevant tasks including stocking, signage, and back stock organization.
• Help establish and communicate organizational systems to ensure product accessibility and support for team members.

Product Selection, Merchandising & Promotions

• Collaborate with the Grocery Category Manager on product selection, promotions, and pricing strategies.
• Build and maintain dynamic, off-shelf displays for seasonal, featured, and promotional items.
• Stay informed on industry trends, customer preferences, and new product offerings; regularly review sales reports.
• Ensure WBS displays are clean, well-organized, accurately signed, and visually appealing.

Ordering & Inventory

• Maintain an effective ordering system to ensure consistent stock levels and product freshness.
• Organize and rotate back stock according to First In, First Out (FIFO) standards.
• Coordinate with the Pricing Department to manage new items, vendor updates, promotions, and price changes.

Safety & Compliance

• Follow all applicable laws and policies related to the sale and handling of alcohol.
• Ensure product is stored and merchandised in accordance with safety, sanitation, and health department standards.
• Operate equipment safely and ensure compliance with Co-op policies and procedures.

Other

• Perform regular Grocery Team Member duties as scheduled.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• At least 1-2 years of experience working in grocery retail, preferably in wine, beer, or specialty foods.
• Experience with merchandising, ordering systems, or retail inventory management and knowledge of industry trends, vendor relations, or category performance analysis preferred.
• Strong commitment to providing excellent customer service.
• Interest in and ability to gain product knowledge in the…